Jefferson County administrator to return to his former job

Tim Boyde said his old bosses asked him to come back to Centre County, Pa.

December 08, 2011|By RICHARD F. BELISLE | richardb@herald-mail.com

Boyde

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — Tim Boyde, Jefferson County's administrator since March 2010, said Thursday he is leaving next month to return to his old administrative job in Centre County, Pa.

Boyde said his old bosses asked him to come back to Centre County, a jurisdiction with a growing population of more than 150,000 residents, 850 county employees and an annual budget of $84 million. By contrast, Jefferson County has 185 employees and a $20 million budget.

The Beaver County, Pa., native said he worked for Centre County for 24 years, the last four-and-a-half as administrator.

"They want me to put the team back together," Boyde said.

He said an immediate challenge will be the planning and installation of a $20 million 911 upgrade there, and "I just couldn't pass it up."

Also prompting his decision to move, he said, was his commute every weekend to Centre County to be with his 15-year-old daughter.

Boyde bought a home in Ranson, W.Va., after taking the job here. He said he has already put the house on the market.

He told the commissioners when they hired him that he would stay on the job for five years then retire.

Commissioners President Patsy Noland said Boyde's announcement came as a surprise to the board.

"Tim brought a lot of experience and knowledge when he came here," she said. "He had a great personality and temperament and he got along well with everyone. He will be missed."

"He's done an outstanding job for Jefferson County," Commissioner Walt Pellish said. "He was easy to work with, had no agenda and he got a lot done."

Noland said the commission will begin advertising for Boyde's replace immediately, a process that could take two to three months.

She said Sandy Slusher McDonald, deputy county administrator, will fill in as county administrator until a replacement is hired.